I think that regardless of whether God exists or not,
I think that the whole concept of "Sin" is entirely man-made.
I think that even if God DOES exist,
He probably has NOTHING to do with any world religion;
I find it far more feasible to imagine God as more of a Scientist,
an amoral being who doesn't influence what we do,
but just observes it,
Who doesn't care whether we believe in Him or worship Him,
or if we murder or rape each other,
or if we have pre-marital sex
or if we're gay.
I also think that just because it's possible that God may exist,
does NOT necessarily also mean that Heaven or Hell exists
....or that humans even have immortal souls.
It is entirely possible that God exists, and is Eternal...
....and we humans, are NOT.
However,
I do have a sort of concept of "Sin", per se, if anyone is interested....it is as follows:
First of all, it is NOTHING like the traditional concept of "Sin"....that involves breaking Commandments or displeasing God.
The Catholic church as the Seven Deadly Sins:
Greed
Gluttony
Pride
Sloth
Lust
Envy
Wrath
I would counter that this list has superfluous items in it...the only one that I find interesting, is LUST;
AND I would also say that this list is also incomplete: FEAR is not mentioned.
I think a human being might do something "evil" out of motivations like Greed, Gluttony, Pride, Slothfulness, etc....
...but I think that, if you dig deeper, all those specific emotions are actually motivated by baser instincts, themselves...
most things we do are ULTIMATELY motivated by either FEAR or LUST.
LUST is what drives us forward...the gas pedal of the car....it is all of our appetites...LUST for food, air, sex, wealth....LUST for Life.
FEAR is the counter-emotion...the brakes of the car....it pulls us back to safety...FEAR of the unknown, of the consequences, of hurt, of death.
So the Catholic list of Deadly Sins is mostly extraneous,
because Greed, Gluttony, and Envy are really usually motivated by LUST that is out of proportion, out of control,
and Pride, Slothfulness, and Wrath are motivated by an underlaying FEAR that has been allowed to grow out of proportion.
So,
My concept of "Sin" basically doesn't simply make it "wrong" to "lust" after someone;
rather, my concept of "Sin" is just an IMBALANCE of Nature's (God's) forces: LUST vs FEAR.
When these two are in healthy balance, you are safe, but enjoy life.
When they grow out of proportion in one direction or the other,
you are miserable.
When LUST is healthy, it makes us want food, financial prosperity, love, sex
...but when it is unhealthy, it becomes an addiction, and ruins your life....the hat is wearing you.
When FEAR is healthy, it keeps us from crossing a busy road without looking both ways, first; it acts to preserve our life;
...but when it is unhealthy, it causes agoraphobia, and makes someone basically afraid of life, in general;
afraid to even leave their house.
With this concept of "Sin"...you are not "punished" in Hell...but you immediately suffer as a result of your own actions.
I think that the whole concept of "Sin" is entirely man-made.
I think that even if God DOES exist,
He probably has NOTHING to do with any world religion;
I find it far more feasible to imagine God as more of a Scientist,
an amoral being who doesn't influence what we do,
but just observes it,
Who doesn't care whether we believe in Him or worship Him,
or if we murder or rape each other,
or if we have pre-marital sex
or if we're gay.
I also think that just because it's possible that God may exist,
does NOT necessarily also mean that Heaven or Hell exists
....or that humans even have immortal souls.
It is entirely possible that God exists, and is Eternal...
....and we humans, are NOT.
However,
I do have a sort of concept of "Sin", per se, if anyone is interested....it is as follows:
First of all, it is NOTHING like the traditional concept of "Sin"....that involves breaking Commandments or displeasing God.
The Catholic church as the Seven Deadly Sins:
Greed
Gluttony
Pride
Sloth
Lust
Envy
Wrath
I would counter that this list has superfluous items in it...the only one that I find interesting, is LUST;
AND I would also say that this list is also incomplete: FEAR is not mentioned.
I think a human being might do something "evil" out of motivations like Greed, Gluttony, Pride, Slothfulness, etc....
...but I think that, if you dig deeper, all those specific emotions are actually motivated by baser instincts, themselves...
most things we do are ULTIMATELY motivated by either FEAR or LUST.
LUST is what drives us forward...the gas pedal of the car....it is all of our appetites...LUST for food, air, sex, wealth....LUST for Life.
FEAR is the counter-emotion...the brakes of the car....it pulls us back to safety...FEAR of the unknown, of the consequences, of hurt, of death.
So the Catholic list of Deadly Sins is mostly extraneous,
because Greed, Gluttony, and Envy are really usually motivated by LUST that is out of proportion, out of control,
and Pride, Slothfulness, and Wrath are motivated by an underlaying FEAR that has been allowed to grow out of proportion.
So,
My concept of "Sin" basically doesn't simply make it "wrong" to "lust" after someone;
rather, my concept of "Sin" is just an IMBALANCE of Nature's (God's) forces: LUST vs FEAR.
When these two are in healthy balance, you are safe, but enjoy life.
When they grow out of proportion in one direction or the other,
you are miserable.
When LUST is healthy, it makes us want food, financial prosperity, love, sex
...but when it is unhealthy, it becomes an addiction, and ruins your life....the hat is wearing you.
When FEAR is healthy, it keeps us from crossing a busy road without looking both ways, first; it acts to preserve our life;
...but when it is unhealthy, it causes agoraphobia, and makes someone basically afraid of life, in general;
afraid to even leave their house.
With this concept of "Sin"...you are not "punished" in Hell...but you immediately suffer as a result of your own actions.
